Oil burner



Feb. 28, 1928.

F. J. LAPOINTE OIL BURNER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jgly 27. 192e fag.

Iwvenlar: Eanczls JLapollnZxe.

Feb. 28, 1928. 1,660,970

F. J. LAPolNTE lwenlnr: Franmls JLapmJnIJe,

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Feb. 28, 1928.

F. J. LAPOINTE OIL BURNER 4 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed July 27. 1926 Inventor: Francis lLapoinz,

Juzg.

Feb. 2s, 1928. 1,660,970

F. J. LAPOINTE OIL BURNER Filed July 27. 1926 4l Sheets-Sheet 4 .From Furnace e l I" .3. if 7e lg 73' gz Inventor: frwwlls Lamina by Ma/n.

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Patented Feb. 28,1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS LAPOINTE, F ANN ABBOB, .MICHIGANZ OIL BURNER.

y Application led July 27, 1926. SerialA No. 125,134.

This invention relates to oil burners and has for its object the production of a device of this character which will be absolutely noiseless and free from soot. y

This obi'ect is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the vdrawin s, this form having l0 been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not liniited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described except as required by the scope of the appended claims.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a plan of an apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a vertical section of the burner on line 2, 2, on Fig. 1.

Figure 3 represents a vertical sect1on of same on line 3, 3, on Fig. 1, the burner casing being shown in elevation. u

Figure 4 represents a plan of the gas generator of the burner.

3u Figure 5 represents a horizontal section Qf the burner on line 5, 5, on Fig. 2 with the cylindrical perforatedl plates or shells removed.

Figure 6 represents a vertical section of 3:, the lower end of the generator, showing the carbon remover.`

Figure 7 represents a vertical section of the oil valve and mechanism for actuating the carbon remover.

Figure 8 represents a section of the pipe leading to the chimney from the heater in which the oil burner -is installed.

Figure 9 represents a horizontal section on line 9, 9,*on Fig. 8, and

45, Figure'lO represents a plan of the central portion of the burner plate and showing the ears to which the ,vapor generator is secured. j Similar characters indicate like arts throughout the several figures of the rawp o in s.

ln the drawings, 10 is a tubular member or conduit with its forward end. 11 open forthe admission of air thereto. The rear end of this member 10 is provided on its upper face with an annular flange 12 on which is 55 supported a metal cylinder 13 having'a ring 14 supported on its upper end.

Within the flange 12 the upper face of the member 10 has an o ening 15 there- I through communicating with an air chamber 16. I

Ihe member 10 has projectin upwardly within the air chamber 16A a p uralitydof bosses 17 on which is sup orted a plate 18.

Centrally .dis osed in t e plate 18 and ex- 65 tending upwar ly therefrom is a enerator 19, the upper end of which is provided with a cover 20.

Within the generator 19 is an oilwell 21 which extends downwardly below the plate 18 and has extending laterally from its lower end a pipe 22, the outer end of which is connected to a valve casing 23.

This valve casing 23 has connected theretol i a p1pe 24 leading to an oil level controller 75 25 which may be of any well known construct-ion and therefore is not illustrated in detail.

The oil Alevel controller is connected bya p ipe 26 to a safety device 27, said safety device havlng a pipe :28 leading thereto from thedtank containingI the supply of oil to be use The safety device 27 is of Well known construction, being the Remnsnider oil control g5 and safety trip valve. As there is no invention in this particular element of the invention it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate the'same in detail.

Within the casing 23 is a valve 29 thread-v ed to the casing at 30 and rotatable about its axis by means of the hand wheel 31 SecuredV to the valve, stern 32.

. Surrounding the valve casing 23 is secured a collar 33 which has an arm 34 extending g5 forwardly therefrom and provided with an' index finger 35 adapted to coaet with a scale onthe front face of the wheel 31 to determine the roper lposition of the valve 29.

When t e valve 29 is opened as shown in 100 i Fig. 7 of the drawings the oil from the su ply tank will pass through the pipe 28, e

sidedslot 41 formed therein into which the flat sided extension 42 of the valve 29 is disposed.

As the valve 29 is rotated causing 1t to move endwise the extension 42 will move endwise in the flat sided slot 41 of the shaft 39.

A sleeve 43 surrounds the eoacting ends of the shaft 39 and extension 42. l

Secured to and revoluble with the gear 37 is a cylinder 44 extending to the top of the oil well, this cylinderI having oppositely disposed openings 45 extending through the wall thereof and the upper end of said cylinder fla-res outwardly and is slotted as indi cated at 46.

Every time the Ivalve 29 is adjusted to vary the admission of oil to the oil well 21, this cylinder 44 will rotate with the gear 37 and loosen an sediment which may remain in the oil wel 21.

In the. generator 19 and on opposite sides of the oil well 21 are gas passages 47 which communicate at. their upper end with the upper end of the oil well and at their lower ends with two radiating passages 48 in the plate 18, the outer ends of these radiating passages being closed by threaded plugs 49.

The upper face of the plate 18 is provided with a plurality of concentric grooves 50 communleatingwith the passages 48.

Upon opposite sides of the groovesy 50 and extending upwardly from the plate 18 are a plurality of perforated annular plates 51.

Each pair of plates 51 forms a vapor or gas passage extending upwardly within the cylinder 13 and between theV various pairs of perforated plates 51 are air spaces 52 closed at the top by weighted covers 53 loosely mounted upon the upper ends of the plates 51. o v

The lower ends of the air` spaces 52 oommunicate by means of openings 54 in the plate 18 with the air chamber 16 beneath said plate. When the burner is.in\'operation the atmospheric air passes through the 'open end 11 into the tube or conduit 10 through the air chamber 16 and the openings 54 into t-he air spaces 52, and then through the perforated plates 51 to supply sufficient air for combustlon when the vapor or gas admitted to the grooves 50 isignited.

The generator 19 has oppositely disposed ears 55 which are secured by bolts 56 to' 1nwardly extending ears 57 projecting into the central opening 58 in the plate 18.

The wallsurrounding the oil well l21 1s comparatively thin as shown at 59 in order that the heat generated inthe burner may readily pass through said wall to act upon the oil contained within the well.

Normally the oil within the well is at a level indicated by dotted lines at 60 on Fig. 2 of the drawings.

When the burner is in operation the heat transmitted through these walls will cause the oil within t-he well 21 to boil and form a vapor, this vapor rising to the top of the generator beneath the cover 20 and passing through the passages 47 into the `radiating passages 48 which communicate with all of the burning grooves 50.

When the vapor in these grooves is ig` nited it fpasses upwardly between the various airs o perforated plates 51 and forms a lue flame free from all soot and sediment.

This combustion of the vapor generated from the boiling oil causes a suction which draws through the perforations in the plates lsuficient air from the air chamber 16 and tube 10 required for the proper combustion of the vapor.

p The amount of flame coming from the b'urner through the ring 14 may be regulated by means of the valve 29.

In addition to the radiating passages 48 are other radiating passages 61 which also communicate with `all of the burning grooves 50.

The Iinner end of these radiating passages 6l are in communication with a semi-annular pipe `62 from which extends a pipe 63 through the tube 10 to anymain supply of gas, such as the city gas main. y

' This pipe 63 has a valve 64 .thercin by which the supply of city gas to the burner may be controlled or completely shut ofi'. Where `the 'city gas is 4not available a supply of gasolene or similar material may be admitted to the burner through the pipe 63 when it is desired to place the burner in operation.

The gas admitted to the grooves 50 through the pipe 63 is for the purpose of starting the burner to place itin proper condition where it will vaporize the oil a'd mitted to the well 21.

Usually this gas is admitted through the pipe 63and ignited for a'period of practically twenty minutes, and at the end of this period all of the burner is in such heated condition andl transmitting its heat to the oil in the well 21 that the oil will boil and become va orized.

None o the oil lin the well will pass through the passages 47 to the slots 50 inthe plate 18, and therefore these slots and the entire plate will always be absolutely free from carbon and any other foreign substances. In other words, the slots 50 and burner plate 18 will be perfectly clean at all times as only a gas or vapor is burned therei'n.

As soon as the burner is sufficiently heated to vaporize the oil the valve 64 is Shut off and no more city gas is required.

It is obvious also that no pilot is required because as soon as the oil begins to vaporize it will continue to furnish a blue flame until the supply of oil to the well 21 is shut ofll by means of the valve 29. y

Should for any cause the oil be admitted to the well 21 when the burner was not in operation, then the oil .thus admitted to the well would overflow into the grooves 50 through the perforations in the plates 51 and pass through the air chamber 16 into the rear end of the tube or conduit 10.

To take care ofv any such overflow of oil the bottom of the rear end of the tube 10 is inclined downwardly as shown at 65.

From thefront end of the downwardly inclined bottom 65 is an overflow pipe 66 which is connected by means of a pipe 67 to the safety bucket 68 forming part of the safety device 27.

This connecting pipe 67 also communicates with a small pipe 69 extending from the oil level controller 25.

This pipe 69 is provided in case there should be any excess of oil in the oil level controller and provides a means for taking off such excess oil. 4 I

On one side of the tube 10 is a bracket 70 which is adjustable vertically relative to the tube 10 and this bracket`70 carries th oil level controller 25.

The adjustment of the bracket 70 is provided so that the oil level controller25 may be raised or lowered thereby varying the level of the oilin the well 21 as desired.

The rear end of the tube or conduit is supported by a leg 71, and the front end is supported by legsy 71".

The burner is installed in the fire pot of any ordinary heater with the open endv of the air conduit extending outwardly through the ash door opening.

As no oil is burned in the burner there is no need ofa connection with a chimney and consequently the damper 72 in the pipe 73 is kept closed at all times.

rThe pipe 73 connects with a T-pipe 74 having a partition 75 therein and a downwardly extending branch 76 open at the lower end. A

`Any gas or vapor escaping from the fire pot around the damper 72 will strike against the partition 75 and be deflected downwardly and then upwardly to the chimney flue through the pipe 77,

This partition 75 prevents any down draft in the chimney from passing by the damper 72 and blowing out the flame of the burner as such down 'draft will be deflected downwardly by the partition and then discharged into the cellar from the lower end of the branch pipe 76.'

It is to be `*noted that neither pressure tanks, electric fans, nor motors are required to operate the burner and that the generator operates entirely without pressure. The consequence is that when the burner is in use it is absolutely noiseless.

By means of the controller 25 a fixed level of oil is maintained in the generator 21 and as this oil gets hot, it boils and throws ofi' a vapor or gas.

It is this vapor which is burned, the oil itself never being burned as it is confined in the well 21 closed at the top by the cover 20.

. When the 'vapor has been generated vfrom `the boiling oil it travels through the vertical passages 47 to the radiating passages 48 and the burning grooves 50.

When this vapor reaches the burning grooves 50, it rises between the perforated plates 51, picking up air admitted through the perforations in said plates, the vapor burning as it rises. Y

The faster the oil is fed to the well 21, the more vapor will be thrown oli as the oil boils, and as a consequence theburn'er gets hotter and hotter.

Either kerosene, gasolene, or crude fuel oil distillate may be used in the burner and as the gas alone is burned, and notthe oil, the entire burner is free from carbon even in the generator.

What little carbon may accumulate in the generator after long use does not in any manner interfere with the'operation of the burner and is of a soft nature and not a hard carbon which would be liable to cause a blockage in the generator.

The carbon is soft because it is saturated with oil inthe well 21 and is easily stirred by the rotation of the cylinder 44 within said well.

In lighting the burner, it can be lit with ordinary city gas by simply using a wax taper, or match, and dropping it into the burning grooves and turning on the gas.

After the gas has been burning for fifteen or twenty minutes, the bottom plate 18 and plates 51 will be heated so hot that the enerator will have accumulated suflicient eat to startgenerating its own gas or vapor.

As soon as the generator produces its own vapor and this is fed to the rooves 50 in the urner plate 18, the supp y of city gas will be shut off entirely.

In the absence of city gas, other means may be used for lighting the burner as for instance placing an asbestos wick or torch saturated with gasoline in one of the burniao ing grooves and supplying this wiel: with gasolene until the burner is suciently hot.

This gasolene may be in an oil cup or other receptacle connected Aat the bottom to theI gas pipe through which the gasolene is fed to the wick andthe cup is adjusted so that thegasolene will be fed as fastas required to keep it` burning.

By the time the cup is empty the burner has become suticiently heated to cause it to generate its own gas and thereafter the vapor generated will continue to burn and no more gasolene will be required.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be understood without further description.

Having thus described my invention, ll claim:

1. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality 'of concentric grooves in its upper face and radiating passages connecting said grooves; a pipe leading from a main gas supply to one of said radiating passages; a vapor generator centrally disposed on said plate and adapted to deliver the vapor generated to another radiating passage; a valve in said pipe; perforated plates extending upwardly from the opposite sides of said grooves and forming annular chambers; and means for supplying air to said chambers.

2. rIhe combination of a plate provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper face; a member supported by and extending upwardly above said plate provided with a Well communicating at the top with passages leading downwardly; means for admitting oil to said well; means for vaporizing said oil in said well; and radial passages communicating with the lower ends of said downwardly leading passages and through which the vapor generated in said well may be delivered to said grooves.

3. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of concentric grooves in its upper face; a member centrally disposed on said plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said member having awell therein communicating at the top with passages leading downwardly to said grooves; means for admitting oil to said well; means for vaporizing said oil in said well; and means whereby the vapor generated may be delivered to said grooves from the lower ends of said downwardly leading passages.

4. The combination of a'plate provided with' a plurality of grooves in its upper face; perforated walls extending upwardly on opposite sides of said grooves; means for admitting air above said grooves through said walls; a well adjacent said' grooves and extending above said plate; means for admitting oilto said well; means for vaporizing said oil in said' well; means wherebyv the vapor generated may be deaecomo livered from the upper end of the well to said grooves; and means for carrying away any oil overtlowing from said well.

5. rllhe combination of a plate provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper face open at the top; an air chamber beneath said .plate having a tubular extension open at the outer end and through which air is admitted to the chamber, said plate having openingstherethrough between said grooves for the passage of air; and means for vaporizing oil at a point above said plate and delivering the vapor generated to said grooves through a plurality of passages communicating with the upper end of said vaporizing means.

6. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of open grooves in its upper face; perforated plates extending upwardly from the opposite sides of said grooves; a casing opened at one end and provided at its other end with an air chamber beneath said platehsaid plate having openings therethrough between said grooves for the passage of air; and means for vaporizingoil at a point above said plate; and means delivering the vapor generated to said grooves through vertical passages the upper ends of which communicate with the upper end of said vaporizing means.

7. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper face; perforated plates extending upwardly from the opposite sides of said grooves; covers supported by said perforated plates for the air spaces between said plates; an air chamber beneath said plate, said plate having openings therethrough between said grooves for the vpassage of air to said air spaces; means for vaporizing oil and delivering it to said grooves; and independent meansfor delivering to said grooves gas from a main supply.

8. The combination of a. plate provided with -a plurality of grooves inlits upper face; an air chamber b'eneath said plate, said plate having openings therethrough between said grooves for the passage of air; means for y delivering gas to said grooves from a main source of supply; and independent means for vaporizing oil and delivering the vapor generated to said grooves.

9. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of concentric grooves in its upper face and radiating passages connecting said grooves; a pipe leading from a main gas supply to one of said radiating passages; a vapor, generator centrally disposed on said plate provided 'with an oil well and passages extending from the top of said well and adapted to deliver thevapor generated to another radiating passage: a valve in said pipe; perforated plates extending upwardly from vthe opposite sides of said groove and forming annular chambers 11. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of concentric grooves in its upper face; a well centrally disposed on said plate and extending upwardly therefrom; means for admitting oil to said well;

' means for vaporizing said oil; means whereby the vapor generated may be delivered to said grooves; and a cylindrical member within said well extending above the oil level and adapted to be rotated.

12. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper face; a well adjacent said grooves; means for admitting oil to said well; means for vaporizing said oil; means whereby the vapor generated may be delivered to said grooves; a valve for controlling the flow of oil to said well; and a hollow cylinder within and extending lengthwise ot' said well and adapted to be moved about its axis whenever said valve is actuated.

13. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper face; a well adjacent said grooves; an oil pipe :leading to said well; a valve for controlling the ow of oil through said pipe; a stud within said well; a gear freely rotatable about said stud; a hollow cylinder supported by and rotatable with said gear; a pinion meshing with said gear; means connected with said valve for rotating said pinion; and means for vaporizing oil in `said well and delivering the generated vapor to said grooves.

14. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper tace; a well adjacent said grooves; means for vaporizing oil in said well and deliveringthe generated vaporl to said grooves; an oil supply pipe leading to the bot-tom `of said well; a hollow cylinder extending lengthwise of said well and having side openings therein; a valve in said supply pipe; and means extending through said pipe and actuated by said valve for rotating said cylinder.

15. The combination'of a cylindrical casing open at the top, a plate disposed within and near the bottom thereof provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper face; perforated plates extending upwardly from the opposite sides of said' grooves; covers supported by said perforated plates for the air spaces between said plates; an

air chamber within said casing beneath said plate, said plate having openings therethrough between said grooves for the passage o air; and means for vaporizing oil and delivering the generated vapor to said grooves.

16. The combination of a cylindrical casing open at the top; a plate disposed within and near the bottom thereof provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper face; an air chamber within said easing beneath said plate, said plate having openings therethrough between said grooves for the passage of air; an air conduit leading to said air chamber; and a pipe extending through said conduit for delivering gas to said grooves from a main source ot' supply.

17. The combination ot a cylindrical casing open at the top; a plate disposed within and near the bottom .thereof provided with a plurality of concentric grooves in its upper tace and two sets of radiating passages connecting said grooves; a pipe leadin from a main gas supply to one set of ra iating passages; a vapor generator centrall disposed on said plate and adapted to eliver the vapor generated to the other set of radiating passages; a valve in said pipe; perforated plates extending upwardly from the opposite sides of said grooves and forming annular chambers; and a conduit leading to the bottom of said casing for supplying air to said chambers.

18. The combination of a cylindrical casing open at the top; a late disposed within and near thebottom t ereof provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper face; a member supported by said plate provided with a well connected at the top b passages leading to said grooves; means or admitting oil to said well; means for vaporizing Isaid oil' in said well; means whereby the vapor generated may be delivered to said grooves; and an air conduit communicating with the bottom of said casing.

19. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality ot' concentric grooves in its upper aisee; a member centrally disposed on said plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said member having a well therein connected at thetop by passages leading to said groovesj;means1for admitting oil to said well; means for va orizing said' oil vin said well; means where y the vapor generatedmay be delivered to said grooves; a deviceV for. controlling the level of the oil in said well; a'safety device including a bucket; and a pipe'lea ing from said controlling means to said bucket.

20. The combination of a generator for vaporizing oil including a centrally disposed oil well; automatic means for maintaining a constant level of the oil within said well; means surrounding said well including a plurality of concentrically disposed burning grooves and passages leading from said burning grooves to the top of said generator and through which the vapor generated in said Well may pass therefrom to said grooves; and means for providing a continuous supply of air to confined spaces above said burning grooves.

21. The combination of a Iplate provided with a plurality of open burning grooves in its upper face; an` oil well adjacent and extending above said grooves; means for maintaining in said well a constant supply of oil at a level above said plate; means for vaporizing the oil in said well; means whereby the vapor generated may be delivered from the upper endl of said well through downwardly extending passages to said burning grooves; and means for providing a continuous supply of air to contined spaces above said burning grooves.

22. The combination of a plate provided with a'plurality of concentric open grooves in its upper face; a well centrally disposed on saidplate and extending upwardly therefrom ,above said grooves; means for maintaining oil in said well at a constant level above said plate; means for vaporizing said oil; and means whereby the vapor generated may be delivered from the upper end of said well to said grooves, through a plurality of vertical passages communicating at the upper end with said well andai/the lower end with said grooves.

23. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of open rooves in its upper face; perforated walls, extending upwardly from the opposite sides of said grooves; means for admitting air above said grooves through said walls; a well adjacent and extending above said grooves; means for maintaining oil in said well at a constant level above said plate; means for vaporizing said oil; and means whereby the vapor generated may be delivered from the upper end .of said well to said grooves through passages external to said well. 1

24. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of open grooves in its-upper face; an oil well extending upwardly above said-flate; perforated plates extending upwar ly from the opposite sides of sald grooves; removable annular covers supported by said perforated plates and closing the upper ends of the air spaces between said' plates; an air chamber beneath said plate, said plate having openings therethrough between said grooves for the passage of air; means for maintaining oil in said well at a constant level above said plate; and means for vaporizing oil in said well; and means for -delivering the vapor generated from the upper end of the well to said grooves.

25. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of open grooves in its upper face; an oil well extending upwardly above said plate; means formaintaining a Constant supply of oil in said well at a level above said plate; an air chamber beneath said plate, said plate having openings therethrough between saidgrooves for the passage of air; means for vaporizing oil in said well and delivering the. vapor generated from the upper end of said well to said grooves; and means for temporarily delivering a priming gas to said grooves from a main source of supply. p

26. The combination of a plate provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper face; an oil well lextending upwardly from said plate and in which the oil is adapted to be vaporized; means for maintaining a constant supply of oil in said well at a level above said plate; means whereby the vapor generated may be delivered from the upper end of said well to said grooves; a safety device externally disposed relatively to said oil well and plate; an oil level controller; means whereby the oil will be delivered through said safety device and 'controller to said well; and a valve between said controller and well.

27. The combination of a' plate provided with a plurality of grooves in its upper face; means for vaporizing oil and delivering the vapor generated to said grooves including an' oil well from the upper end of which the vapor generated is discharged; a controller for maintaining the oil in said Well at a constant level above said plate; a valve between said cont-roller and well; a safety device including a bucket through which the oil passestofsaid controller; and means whereby any overflow of oil from Said well will be discharged into said bucket.

Signed by me at Ann Arbor, Michigan this 23 day of July 1926: f

-' FRANCIS J. LAPOINTE. 

